By JONATHON HOWARD
WARWICK identity and remarkable Australian, Fred Hyde OAM AM, who established 45 schools to educated thousands of impoverished children in Bangladesh, is facing his toughest challenge yet.
Mr Hyde is searching for the next great leader to fill his boots and bring the organisation into the 21st century with as much passion as he had during the past three decades.
Since 1980, Mr Hyde has been working to establish the Co-Operation in Development Incorporated (Co-ID) in Bangladesh with a clear motto “building schools, bringing hope”.
It was through this motto and fund-raising efforts that the Co-ID was able to educate thousands of children to gain accredited training in remote areas of Bangladesh.
Today, Mr Hyde is aged 94 and he has built Co-ID into a thriving network with 180 staff, servicing 45 schools with a clear view towards achieving the Co-ID vision.
But a lack of a clear successor from within the Co-ID ranks has cast doubt over the future of the organisation.
The uncertainty in leadership has prompted Mr Hyde to call for a new CEO to take the reins and continue Co-ID’s important work.
“The organisation needs a CEO who will embrace the challenges ahead and strive to achieve the best outcomes for the thousands of children we educate and support in Bangladesh,” he said.
The position was being advertised nationally for the CEO role of Co-ID, but Mr Hyde said he hoped someone from Warwick or surrounds could step in.
“I think it would be great to keep the next CEO in the local area, but that’s not always possible so we’re widening out search throughout the nation to find the next leader of Co-ID,” he said.
Mr Hyde heaped praise on the current Co-ID board members, who he said had done an “exceptional job” developing donors and maintaining both the current and future operations.
“But there’s always room for new blood and fresh ideas to take control and take over once I’m gone,” he said.
Mr Hyde, who never gave himself a title, said he would remain a part of the organisation to the end.
Co-ID members will host their annual general meeting at the Warwick RSL Club on Sunday, September 29. Members from Melbourne, Canberra, Darwin and locally were expected to attend.
The board will discuss matters from the latest school venture, fund-raising and advertising to appoint a new CEO.
To find out more visit the Co-ID website or phone: (07) 4661 7900.
